Chronological Resume Format

A chronological resume is used when you have a strong employment history that you can flaunt. This format highlights the duties, responsibilities and tasks that you have accomplished at your previous jobs and the experience you have gained in your field over the years. It clearly depicts your upward progress in designation, proving your worth as a competent employee. The chronological resume gives credibility to your successes and convinces the recruiters of your potential.

The criteria best suited for the use of a chronological resume:

A long, unbroken work experience
A steady career path with no change of profession
Prior experience in a well reputed company
New job sought in the same profession

Some obvious advantages of a chronological resume are that it shows your career progress at a glance and lets your rich, vast experience speak for you. A well drafted resume in the chronological format paints a picture of a capable, trustworthy and promising candidate that most employers would surely want to be part of their company.

As this format completely draws from your prior work history, it would not be suited for those with little experience or those who have had breaks and gaps in their professional lives or have changed their careers mid way by shifting to a completely new line. This format also allows the reader to make an approximate estimate about your age and would therefore not suit those who would like to conceal their age.

Now that we have thoroughly familiarized you about every aspect about the chronological resume, it would be appropriate to follow it up with a sample chronological resume format. However, please keep in mind that this is only a fictitious prototype meant as guidance. You should use details relevant to you and specific to your field while framing your own chronological resume.

Sample Chronological Resume Format

Maybelline Wilkes
P.O Box 1433
Blackwood, NJ, 08012-7133
Ph: (856) 405-2526
Email: maywilkes@example.com

Objective: Aspiring for the post of editor of your reputed fortnightly magazine where my vast experience and immense talent would contribute towards producing high quality content thus enhancing the reputation and boosting the readership of your publication.

Education

B.A. English, University of San Jose 2004
Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication,
XYZ Institute, New Jersey, 2006

Work Experience:

1. New Jersey Times
Senior Sub-editor, Jan 2010 to present
Responsibilities:

Design weekly layout of the paper
Edit the paper and check content
Write the daily editorial column
Conduct staff meetings and plan the budget

2. Sports Plus Sub-editor, Nov 2008 to Dec 2009 Responsibilities:

Edit the sports section of The Daily Star
Write the top sports story for the day
Train new recruits in sports reporting
Interview sports personalities and include in the daily paper

3. Boston City News Feature writer, June 2007 to Oct 2008 Responsibilities:

Doing research on stories and preparing a write up
Report on press conferences and celebrity news
Writing movie and book reviews
Successfully undertook live coverage of emergency events

4. The Daily Mirror Reporter Intern, June 2006 - May 2007 Responsibilities:

Followed directions of the supervisor and worked on several projects
Proposed layout design by using MS Publisher
Attended press releases, press conferences to gather information
Covered local sports events at high school and college level

Achievements:

Earned my newspaper the Best Editorial Column Award 2010
Cover Story of the Year 2010 for write up about Drug Rehabilitation
Best Sports coverage 2009
Outstanding Student of Journalism Award, XYZ Institute, 2006

Affiliations:

Member of "UWire"- an honor granted to the top 100 journalists of the country Active member of Tau Alpha that promotes excellence in journalism

References: Available on request

Conclusion: The sample above is an ideal example of a chronological resume format. Designing your own special resume based on a similar format would give your career the well deserved boost that you have been longing for.